One Drop of Blood

Wonderfully dense volume of crosscultural history. The book is divided into three sections, Native American, African American, & European American. His great use of contemporary and historical references made this a meaty thought provoking read. This book has directed me to several classic authors as well as helped me to appreciate the horror and complexity of the issues of racism in America. If you could not put down the People's history... you will move through this book very quickly.

I have had a hard time getting into this book. Malcomson wades into detail, droning on and on. My own lack of discipline confronted me, but interest in the subject kept me turning the pages and I am very glad I did. As other reviewers point out, this isn't a perfect book, but for my money he took on a subject that we sorely need in this country if we are ever to move forward to see ourselves as one entity, human beings. I thank him for that. I think this would be a great book, along with Takaki from UCB's book "A Different Mirror," to be on the shelves of history classes through out our country, even in its imperfections. Racism is an artificial classification. Skin is decided in the gens, like eye color, etc. To base anything on it is ridiculous. But man's inhumanity to man is a reality, using whatever means necessary to carry out power. Just look around the world and watch it carried out today in every continent. This book is a step in enlightening a part of American history that was left out of my history books as a kid. I hope others will tackle this subject so that we can accept that we have always been multicultural, multireligious, and various colored peoples from the beginning. We haven't always told the truth of our inheritance as a nation. I applaud anyone who tackles this subject and highly recommend reading this book. I might also add that with DNA testing available now, we might find we are more connected than we have all dared to admit in the past.

Malcomson provides a wealth of historical, detailed proof of the European, Renaissance-period origins of "race." Additionally, from a uniquely American perspective, he shows how destructive this concept has been for both "white" people and "non-white" peoples, alike. This book is necessarily somewhat dry, because the concept of race lies so deep within our sub-conscious thinking that cursory analyses and descriptions would come off as either mythological or hysterical -- and therefore would convince no one of their truth.

Malcomson's is a magnificent achievement. He brings profundity, originality and a rare sympathy to a large and all-important subject - race. It is history at its best, limpid, engrossing, rewarding and unusual. But Malcomson's real achievement is in taking One Drop of Blood beyond history and into the realm of our daily lives. His story matters to anyone who thinks about the modern world. Never preachy, often diverting, it is stylish written and littered with beautifully turned passages and episodes. And throughout is Malcomson's own wonderfully distinctive voice, calm and passionate; clear and lyrical; at times a little abashed, at other times full-throated; and always, always intensely empathetic and compassionate.